Accredited Sleep Technologist Education Program (ASTEP)

The Accredited Sleep Technologist Education Program (ASTEP) is an accredited program set up by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to provide standardized education for sleep trainees and technicians. It contains both ASTEP I, which consists of 80 hours of didactics, and ASTEP II, that consists of 23 teaching modules that are performed online.

The Cleveland Clinic is pleased to offer the ASTEP I program that encompasses 2 wweks of lecture/classroom time along with hands on demonstration and return demonstration of sleep skills. This blended course is a lead in to prepare for ASTEP II which is offered independently of this program.

Currently, completion of ASTEP II is a prerequisite for the sleep registry examination. Since July of 2010, both ASTEP I and ASTEP II are required prior to taking the Board of Registered Polysomnography Technologists (BRPT) exam. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is the accrediting body. Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center is currently the only accredited program offering ASTEP.

Following completion of the program, students are eligible to apply for a Sleep Technology Position at the Cleveland Clinic contingent on successful completion of the ASTEP I program and 6 months of patient care experience. If hired they are eligible to seek reimbursement of tuition, upon completion of their 90 day probationary period, according to our tuition reimbursement policy

Application

* Cleveland Clinic does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities, on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, religion, creed, color, marital status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ethnicity, ancestry, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Cleveland Clinic administers all programs and services without regard to disability, and provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.

The following will help guide you through the ASTEP application process. Please check off the steps as you complete them, but this page does NOT need to be submitted as part of your application packet.

Tuition - $1,500

Acceptable forms of payment are either a certified check or money order made payable to Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center. A non-refundable application fee of $25 is required when the application submitted. The remaining balance will be due by one week prior to the start of the course.

Application Requirements

Application – Must be completed in full by the applicant for admission.

Copy of High School Diploma – A copy of your high school diploma must be submitted, but this can be substituted with a copy of your college diploma if applicable.

Resume – A complete resume is required.

Application fee – A $25 non refundable application fee in the form of a certified check or money order.

Day 1: Introduction to Sleep and Disorders of Sleep

The student will learn an introduction to the field of clinical polysomnography with emphasis in sleep definitions and functions, the role of the sleep technologist in patient confidentiality and HIPAA regulations, infection control, and patient safety. The course also gives an overview of sleep disorders, circadian rhythms and summarizing the PSG report together with strategies for coping with shift work.

Day 2: EEG and Sleep Staging

The student will learn normal sleep architecture and the characteristics of sleep stages. Non –REM stages Wake, N1, N2, N3 and stage REM will be discussed and polysomnographic examples will show how these variables, viewed collectively, provide diagnostic information regarding normal and/or abnormal sleep. Hands on scoring will comprise a large portion of the course with numerous practice opportunities. The course includes scoring of EEG (brainwave) arousals, Digital Concepts of Analog- to Digital Conversion (ADC), horizontal and vertical resolution and instrument settings together with sampling rate dwell time, aliasing, and bit capacity as it relates to polysomnography.

Day 3: Cardiovascular Monitoring

The student will learn basic cardiac anatomy and physiology as it relates to the field of sleep as well as an introduction to basic ECG signal generation and demonstration of normal and abnormal ECG signals. This knowledge will serve as an initial exposure to identify emergency and non – emergency situations regarding cardiac rhythm disturbances.

Day 4: Respiratory Monitoring

The student will learn the anatomical structures related to breathing and the way that they work together will provide the student with a basis for understanding the more common respiratory abnormalities seen in the sleep lab, and the distinguishing characteristics of respiratory scoring. Instruction in how the brain, chemical composition of the blood, and feedback mechanisms from the chest wall must properly communicate to produce a normal respiratory pattern.

Day 5: Sleep Related Breathing Disorders

The student will learn about the most common disease states that may be present to the sleep lab. Discussion will include the background, clinical presentation, pathology, and diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndromes, Central Sleep Apnea, and Hypoventilation together with scoring respiratory events.

Day 6: Treatment for Sleep Related Breathing Disorders

The student will learn the basics of the various therapeutic interventions of Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP/ BiLevel), and O2 used during the course of a sleep study. Proper mask fitting techniques, vital to a patient’s tolerance of the interventions, will be reviewed.

Day 7: Sleep Related Movement Disorders and EMG Monitoring

The student will learn an overview of muscular structure and function as it relates to sleep, specifics regarding the lower extremities, chin, and upper airway. This information will be a precursor for the discussion of Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). A presentation of the criteria for scoring periodic limb movements and how to chart the findings will be discussed in this course.

The student will learn about specific sleep disorders, emphasis is put on disorders such as Parasomnias, Seizures, and Narcolepsy or Idiopathic Central Nervous System Hypersomnia as evaluated by the polysomnography. Specific sleep testing protocols used in the assessment of disorders of excessive daytime somnolence. Disorders such as Narcolepsy or Idiopathic Central Nervous System Hypersomnia can be evaluated by the combination of night time polysomnography followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) starting the following morning. The test measures the time it takes to fall asleep when the opportunity is presented. An alternative to MSLT is the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) which investigates how long wakefulness can be maintained. Electrode placement, complex procedural information and scoring criteria will be discussed.

Day 9: Insomnia, Circadian Rhythm and Psychiatric Disorders

The student will learn about circadian rhythm concepts and how it relates to normal sleep. This course emphasizes on the comprehension of deviations of normal sleep in relation to insomnia, psychiatric and behavioral disorders.

Day 10: Pediatric Polysomnography

The student will learn an adequate differential diagnosis and three types of sleep- related problems in children, insomnias, hypersomnias, and abnormal activity or behaviors during sleep. The course demonstrates the importance of hook-up, acquisition for an overnight study, and scoring basics and differences as it relates to adults.

I am coming from out of state, will my hotel be provided for me or do I need to make my own arrangements?

You will need to make your own accommodation arrangements. The hotel will offer a discounted rate for those that are enrolled in the course. When calling the hotel you will need to tell them you are enrolled in the ASTEP program so you will receive the discounted rate.

Are meals included?

Meals are not provided and are not included in the cost of the training program. However, within the hotel vicinity there are a variety of restaurants within walking distance.

How long am I able to cancel my enrollment and still receive a full refund?

You will need to cancel as soon as possible. One month notice is preferred.

What happens if I miss a day during the program?

Contact ASTEP Program Director or Technical Director for details at 800.223.2273 ext. 47721.

Will I be working on actual patients?

You will be using an actual sleep lab center but patients will either be volunteers or students within the class.

Who teaches the class?

Cleveland Clinic Sleep Disorders Center staff physicians and RPSGT’s both help give the didactic lectures during the program. Practicals are given by the RPSGT’s.

What is the job market for the sleep technologists?

Sleep Medicine is one of the fastest growing field in health care. Millions of people suffer from any one of the various sleep disorders. There is a demand nationwide for qualified sleep technologists.